The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-23
A LITTLE OLD BOOKS STORY
1t Tells officially How the County of
Marion Came Into Existence.
The First Meeting of the Board Of Commits
sioners-How Charges of Tavern-keepers
aud Liquor Sellers We're Limited

There is sometimes pulled out with other
records and with them thrown in the course OF
the day from one end of the counter to the other
In the County Commissioners Office a paper cov-
cred book, soiled with dust-spots, yellow with
age and altogether unattractive. It is a record
nevertheless, and an important one az that,
although it has the appearance of being some
eld-time shopkeeping memoranda of backward
accounts. The pages filled with the regular
and legible writing of James NJ Ray, and while
or the most part the contents dry as the
caves, in places be found details that de-
Serve preservation among reference notes for
he curious and searchers after the doings of the
,ld settlers. 1t is the first record OF the fret
Board Of Marion County Commissioners. who
held their first meeting April 10. 1922 1t
begins by telling the people of that time and of
all other times so long the book shall last that
the commissioners were Of Marion county.
which was formed out of the county of Del a.
wore by act of she General Assembly of the
State of Indiana. approved Dec. 81. 1921" and
that this commissioners meeting was held at
the house OF John Carr. in the town of Indian
apos ''that being the place designated by said
act Of the Assembly for holding the Circuit and
al other courts of Marion county until a court.
house or other house more suitable can be had"
q
fact we'll in law, for all of it's officers pre-
sented to the board their certificates of election
took the oath, filed their bonds. and went about
their respective duties. OF the three commits
sioners only John T. Osborn and VIM. Mozart
ney present They showed each other
their certificates of election, took the oath of
Office, but who administered it is not stated, and
then put James NJ Ray in shape to perform the
dnfY of cla nd Rata
to transact the business of the sheriffs Office.
These officers had been elected by the people,
and, while the sheriff required the certificates of
election of the comm oners, he and the Circuit
Court clerk got their commissions from Gov
ernor Jennings. The next day the third COM
missioner, John Mccormick. who had been
slected for two years, appeared. Osborn got
the three and Mccartney the one-year term.
There is no mention of any one of the three be-
ing president of the board but the roll of county
officers was completed by appointing Daniel
Yandes treasurer. He filed his bond, with
security to the satisfaction OF the board"
Neither the amount nor securities were made
matters of record but, perhaps, this was not
considered of Importance. as Mr. Yandes was to
mold the Office only It'll the following February.
At that time Marion county included part of
Hamilton and Madison, and in the formation of
townships, four are named which are not to-day
Fall Creek Anderson. White River and Della
ware. OF the nine existing, eight
formed in addition to those pamed. They were
Lawrence, Washington, Pike, Center, Wayne,
Franklin, Perry and Decatur But on account
of the want of population. the commissioners
ordered Washington and Lawrence. Pike and
Wayne. Decatur, Perry and Franklin, Center
and Warren. to unite their interests in the
groups named, until each township had suffi-
Client number Of people to permit its organiza
ton indepe ndent of any of the others. After
this was done. to provide for the coming cleo
tlons was considered the next important bust
ness The polling places were as follows: At
Elijah Fox's with Joel Wright as inspector for
Washingto and Lawrence; at John Cars. with
Thomas Carter as inspector for Cen ter and War
rem; at Peter Harmonson's. with him inspect
or, for Decatur, Perry and Franklin; at Mrs.
Barnhill's, with Jeremiah j. Corbaley in
spector for Pike and Wayne; at VIM. Mozart
news with Andrew Winsell as inspector for
Fall Creek; at John Barrys. who was also in
SD sctor for Anderson: at James Pages, with him
as inspector for White River, and at John
Finch's, whose brother Solomon inspector
for Delaware
The next day the commissioners adopted
seal which was a star center surrounded with NJ.
G. c., with carved stripes tending 10 the center
of the star. and them were cut Marion
County Seal" After providing for the election
OF magistrates in the various townships on May
8. 10 and IL, the board approved schedule of
ferry charges. The ferry was near the point
where the Washington street bridge now crosses
the river The commissioners did not have the
to-day is having with patural-gas rates. 1t was
arranged without much discussion and promptly
adopted follows: